Feather-dressing machine



A. BAILEY.

Feather Renovator.

Patented Oct. 27, 1857.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMON BAILEY, OF EAST PO'ULTNEY, VERMONT.

FEATHER-DRESSING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 18,493, dated October 27, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMoN BAILEY, of East Poultney, in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont, have invented an Improved Feather-Dressing Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of my machine, showing its general appearance and arrangement, the door for the admission of the feathers, and the positions of the valves; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal vertical section of the same; Fig. 3, is a transverse vertical section through line w m of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, is a transverse section of the valve (enlarged) and steam tube, showing the valve opening inwardly; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the same, showing the valve opening externally and closed internally.

The same part is indicated by the same letter of reference in all the figures.

A is the frame of the machine; B, the

dressing box; C hollow journal of box B;

C, solid journal of same; D door of dressing box; E, E, E, &o., valves; F, radial steam tubes; G, horizontal steam tubes; H steam chamber; I winch for turning box B; J valve tube; K shank of valve; L, button on end of valve shank or rod by which said rod is revolved; M, spring for holding button Z in place in either position of the valves; a a, enlargements of valve rod to steady its movements in the valve tube; 5 opening from valve tube into steam tube G; c c washers of valves; cl, (Z, d, cl, valve plates.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improved machine I will proceed to describe its construction and operation as follows :The frame A I make of any convenient form and material; the box B, I make about 217 feet in diameter and seven feet long. Its walls are made of thin planking, and its shape may be either cylindrical or polygonal as preferred. I have found the octagon a convenient form. I hang the dressing box B in the frame A on journals 0, G, and revolve the box by means of the winch I, attached to journal C. At one end of the box B I place a steam chamber H which communicates by means of radial tubes F, F, &c., with the long horizontal tubes G, of which there may be any desired number. Through tubes G,

G, &-c., pass the valve tubes J, communicating with G by the openings 5. (Figs. 4 and 5.) In these valve tubes are placed valve rods K, constructed as represented, with guides 11, a, to make them work steadily back and forth in the tubes. These guides are made to allow the free passage of steam. lVashers c, c, of leather are placed on the valve rods, and are supported by metal valve plates (Z d. When these washers are pressed against the ends of the valve tubes they close them steam tight. The position of the washers and plates can be adjusted by screwing them up or down on the screw thread of the valve rod. The tubes G, run the whole length of the dressing box B, and any required number of valves may be employed in connection with them.

The operation of this machine is as follows: The feathers to be renovated are poured into the box B through the door D, which is then securely closed. Steam, which is supplied from any suitable boiler, is admitted through journal G into steam chamber H. Thence it passes through radial tubes, F, into longitudinal tubes G. The valves, at this stage of the operation, are arranged to open inward in the manner hereinafter described, so that the steam, passing into the tube J through the opening 6, flows into the dressing box and is thoroughly mingled with the feathers by the rotary motion of the box B, which is kept up during the process. When the feathers are sufficiently steamed, the valves are closed internally and opened externally. The flow of steam heats tubes F and G, and the box being kept in revolution the steamed feathers are rapidly and eifectually dried, when they may be removed for use. The valves are made to open internally by turning the buttons L under the spring M, which keeps the washers 0 close against the outer ends of the valve tubes, and opens the inner ends of said tubes, as seen in Fig. 4. The valves are closed internally and opened externally by turning the button L over spring M which draws out the valve shaft and keeps it in the position shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus fully described my invention I wish it understood that I do not claim dressing feathers by steam. I am aware that various methods have before been adopted with more or less success, but none, so far as I can learn, in which the steam has been distributed and controlled in the manner I The above specification signed and Witemploy. nessed this thirteenth day of August 1857.

I therefore claim as In invention- The combination of chi steam chamber H, AMON BAILEY 5 with the radial tubes F, horizontal tubes G, Witnesses:

and valves E, all constructed and operating WILLIAM AsHDOWN, substantially as described. CHAs. F. STANSBURY. 

